Evaluation of some bioactive compounds of <i>Azadirachta indica</i> extracts and its application as safe fungicide against different plant pathogenic fungi

Abstract

Extracts of leaves, seeds and twigs of Azadirachta indica was carried out using Soxhlet extraction technique. These extracts were subjected to percent yield, in vitro phytochemical screening and antifungal activities (minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC), minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), zone of inhibition and spore germination assay) against plant pathogenic fungi Cladosporium fulvum, Colletotrichum coccodes, Fusarium oxysporum and Rhizoctonia solani. The Soxhlet extractive solvents were methanol, ethanol, chloroform, ethyl acetate and n–hexane. The maximum extractive yield were calculated in ethanol leaves (26±1.5%), methanol leaves (22±01%), n–hexane seeds (32±0.8%) and ethanol seeds (24±01%), while twigs calculated minimum extractive yield. The phytochemicals screening findings confirmed the occurrence of terpenoids, phenols, flavonoids, glycosides, alkaloids, tannins and saponins. The antifungal activities observed that leaves and seeds extracts of neem might cause the inhibition of mycelium and spore germination of tested fungi, though the antifungal activities rate of under study fungal strains diverse with dissimilar concentration and nature of extracts. However the entire concentrations of extract and crude extract especially the methanol and ethanol extracts of neem seeds and leaves reduce the plant pathogenic fungi growth at noteworthy rate. It was concluded from our results that neem leaves and seeds extracts were effectual as antifungal agents against the entire under study fungal strains however the most sensitive fungi were Rhizoctonia solani and Fusarium oxysporum. The findings acquired from this study revealed that chemical constituents from neem seeds and leaves may be formulated as latent agrochemical fungicides.